Randy Arozarena is excited to be facing his original team for the first time.
The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year had three hits and tied a career best with four RBI, helping the Tampa Bay Rays posted an 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.
Arozarena was a St. Louis prospect with 19 games of major league experience when he was obtained from the Cardinals in a January 2020 trade.
The native of Cuba had an RBI double in the first inning and a two-run single in the seventh to pace an 18-hit outburst.
Vidal Bruján had three RBI, and Ji-Man Choi and Harold Ramírez drove in two runs apiece for Tampa Bay.
Rough night for Packy Naughton who worked only an inning and a third, giving up four runs on five hits to slip to 0-2. Veteran catcher Yadier Molina pitched a scoreless eighth for St. Louis.
Nolan Arenado was not in the lineup after being hit by a pitch in the right knee during the 10th inning of Tuesday night’s 4-2 loss to the Rays. The Gold Glove third baseman said he expects to play Thursday.
The finale of a three-game series, with lefty Shane McClanahan (6-2, 2.10 ERA) starting for the Rays. The Cardinals had not announced a starting pitcher. 11:15 with the pregame and the first pitch at 12:10 Thursday on KIRX.
First place Milwaukee leads second place St. Louis by a half a game, third place Pittsburgh is 7 games out, fourth place Cubs are 9 games out.